34 



The eggs to the number of 400 to 500 are deposited in clusters attached 

 . to trees, fences, etc. Each cluster is covered with j-ellow hairs from 

 the body of the female, which causes the mass to resemble a piece of 

 sponge. The caterpillars hatch from April to June, and feed vora- 

 ciously on the leaves, mostly at night. The full-grown caterpillar is 

 about 2 inches long, of a grayish, mottled appearance, with the tuber- 



FiG. 24.— Portlielria dispar. Larva. (Howard.) 



cles on the anterior part of the body blue, and those on the hinder part 

 of the body red, all giving rise to long yellow and black hairs. When 

 the caterpillars are about half grown they begin to crawl down the tree 

 to the ground in early morning, and ascend again for feeding in the 

 evening. By July they are readj' to pupate in a thin cocoon fastened 



Fig. 2b.—Parthfliia Mspar. Chrysalis. (Howard.) 



to the trunk of the tree, to a fence, or other convenient object. The 

 pupal period is about ten days, and the moths issue in August. 

 The female moth has whitish wings with several black spots, notably 

 around the outer margin. The male is brownish, with darker undu- 

 late lines and spots. The gipsy moth attacks almost every sort of tree, 

 and there is but one brood a year. 



